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Where the inhabitants go is not our concern, provided they find a legal
residence.
"Where do the inhabitants have to go but other half-worlds? And once those are
cleaned out, they will have no place to go but the streets, where they cannot
help but create disturbances, and even a riot or two." He turns to Hilthi.
"How will the video broadcasts regard that? It is one thing to turn military
police loose on the likes of the Silver Hand it is regrettable, but most
viewers will concede its necessity, given their threat to the state and a
certain . . . reluctance ... on the part of the proper authorities but to
set swarms of police loose on the most defenseless of our citizens, those on
whose behalf we hope to create the revolution, to deprive them of shelter and
set them out on the streets
"I object to these provocative descriptions!" Gentri shouts. "Swarms of
police! Defenseless citizens! Reluctant authorities! My colleague is
attempting to turn a perfectly legal police action into some grotesque act of
brutality!
There is an amused glint in Constantine's eye. "I did not turn it so.
Gentri looks at the others around the table. "Colleagues! This is
outrageous!
Constantine holds up a hand, forefinger tucked away with the thumb, remaining
three fingers extended. "Three arrests of Handmen. That is outrageous.
The room buzzes with the sound of everyone talking at once. Voices are
raised. Finally Drumbeth picks up the crystal hammer and brings it down. The
Crystal Dome rings with harmony, and for the moment anyway the babble of
discord dies away.
Drumbeth looks at Gentri. "I had hoped for better results against the
Handmen," he says.
"Mr. President," Gentri says, "they are a large and difficult target.
"Miss Aiah has not found them so difficult." Drumbeth frowns. "After the
Keremaths, the Hand is the chief target of our administration. They are the
chief threat to the security of our metropolis. When may we expect you to
move decisively against them?
Gentri licks his lips. Plasm adverts, red, yellow, green, bloom behind his
head like fireworks. "Intelligence must be gathered, targets chosen, plans
made....
The commanding light that glitters in Drumbeth's eyes is like the hard gleam
off a diamond facet. He sits erect and motionless in his chair, and his
presence seems to inflate: despite Drumbeth's small body he suddenly seems to
mass far more than Gentri, and to tower over him like the stone-face Myhorn.
"My understanding," Drumbeth says, "is that you have gathered intelligence,
that the police have years of intelligence.
Gentri shifts uncomfortably in his seat, rearranges his thinning locks with a
distracted hand. "We are in a process of review. To determine its accuracy.
"And when may we expect to have the review completed?
Gentri raises his hands helplessly. "I have no estimate. I did not
understand that any of these issues would be raised at this meeting.
Constantine leans forward and speaks. His speech has turned silky; he is
generous now that he has made his point.
"I sympathize with my colleague's dilemma. He is new to his position, and he
is not responsible for the fact that he has inherited a police force renowned
for its corruption. I have a few of the same problems with some of the
organizations under my ministerial control. One understands the situation,
but one doesn't want to admit the system's failures among one's peers.
Gentri is in no mood to be appeased, and scowls as he makes his reply. "Steps
are being taken to rectify this situation. I have made full reports to my
colleagues on my efforts.
Constantine continues soothing, his deep voice evoking odd little harmonies
from the crystal surroundings, individual panes and plates ringing with his
voice. "May I offer my colleague the technique that has produced such
admirable results in the Plasm Enforcement Division? That each employee be
subjected to a plasm scan in order to determine that he is not beholden to the
Silver Hand or any other extralegal agency?
Gentri glares at Constantine. Behind him, plasm letters hang burning in the
sky. "The effects on police morale would be incalculable.
Constantine's laughter rumbles out, and somewhere a crystal pane hums in
sympathy. "I should hope so.
Gentri looks at the head of the table. "Am I to understand that the
half-worlds now possess the same sort of political immunity formerly enjoyed
by the Silver Hand and various Keremath enterprises? What possible use could
such protection be for us what is gained?
Drumbeth frowns, thinks for a long moment. "I am concerned principally with
returning plasm resources to the state. If there are plasm thieves, or other
criminals, within the half-worlds, let them be arrested, by all means.
Hilthi looks up again from his notebooks. "But deporting whole populations ..
.," he says.
"I think not," says Drumbeth. He looks at Gentri, and his voice turns
commanding. "And we desire action against the Handmen. Names, charges,
facts, totals of plasm and other stolen materials returned. All this, and
soon.
Gentri visibly bites down his resentment, and nods. "Very well, sir," he
says. "Soon.
Soon. Aiah thinks she tastes an odd flavor in that word, as if Gentri is
offering another promise entirely, something quite different from what
Drumbeth has in mind.
But no one else seems to hear what Aiah hears, and suddenly there is a blaze
of light overhead. Several in the cabinet start, afraid this might be some
kind of attack, but there is no danger, it is only a plasm display an illegal
plasm display, because no displays are permitted over the Palace in the event
they might be used to disguise an assault. But all faces turn upward in any
case.... A dolphin spins through space; a cat wearing white gloves and a vest
makes a commanding gesture with a stick; a woman in tall boots contemplates
some kind of net she is holding in her hand, a window which allows a glimpse
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